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About CEERP

Leveraging adaptive management to restore the Columbia River Estuary’s ecosystems

20 Years of Estuary Restoration under CEERP

For over 20 years, the Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program—CEERP—has supported the scientific review and implementation of site-specific estuary restoration actions and projects. The program pairs long-term monitoring and research to improve restoration designs and assess their effectiveness. CEERP was developed to satisfy hydropower mitigation obligations and commitments under the Northwest Power and Conservation Act of 1980 and Biological Opinions (BiOps) regarding essential fish habitat response for operating and maintaining the Columbia River Hydropower System. Within this context, CEERP aims to understand, conserve, and restore ecosystems in the Columbia River Estuary, from the Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean.

Mission

Implement an ecosystem-based approach to understand, conserve, and restore the Columbia River Estuary, using science-based strategies and adaptive management to demonstrate measurable results.

Vision

Thriving and resilient Columbia River Estuary ecosystems that support native fish and wildlife species and provide ecological, economic, and cultural benefits to the region.

CEERP Program Goals & Objectives

CEERP focuses on restoring surface water connections between the Columbia River Estuary’s mainstem and its side channels, floodplains, and tidal marshes through strategic removal of human-made flood control structures. These reconnections enhance shallow-water habitats, reestablish native vegetation, and build a strong network of practitioners to support the estuary ecosystem.

*Secret River marsh during sediment elevation table monitoring (Photo by Shanon Dell | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)*

Habitat Quality

Improve the quality of estuarine and tidal fluvial ecosystems.

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*Adding large wood habitat structures during the Steigerwald Reconnection Project (Photo by the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership)*

Habitat Connectivity

Enhance opportunities for access by aquatic organisms to shallow-water habitats.

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*Juvenile Coho salmon swim in shallow-water habitat (Photo by Narayan Elasmar | Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce)*

Ecosystem Functions

Improve ecosystem functions supporting juvenile salmonids consistent with federal mitigation requirements.

*A site visit at Woodland Island following project implementation using dredged material for beneficial uses. (Photo by Mark Bierman | US Army Corps of Engineers)*

Community Engagement

Collaborate with stakeholders and local communities to achieve restoration goals.

*A researcher snaps a photo of Henderson’s checkermallow at the*
*Chinook River Mouth marsh (Photo by Amy Borde | Columbia Land Trust)*

Ecosystem Health

Promote biodiversity and ecosystem resilience to support a thriving estuary.

Learn more about CEERP’s many efforts

Restoration

Monitoring

Research

Where We Work

From Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean

Between Bonneville Dam and the out-flow of the Columbia River into the Pacific Ocean lies a dynamic complex of ecosystems that supports rich biodiversity and a multitude of human activities. CEERP operates in the lower 146 river miles of the Columbia River, including all the tidally influenced areas within tributaries downriver of the dam.

The History of CEERP

Biological Opinions and Restoration

Beginning in 2000, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) specifically included the estuary in Biological Opinions (BiOps) it issued for federal hydropower operation in the Columbia River Basin. These BiOps identified threats to listed species and required actions to minimize impacts. CEERP restoration efforts directly address these threats and benefit salmon stocks.

Read the BiOps

CEERP’s Community of Practice

The CEERP program exists to restore juvenile salmon habitat. It is led by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers, and advised by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These agencies are committed to advancing understanding of estuarine processes to restore, protect, and enhance shallow-water habitats that have been affected by changes in river flow from the construction and operation of hydropower dams and water withdrawals, while ensuring reliable electrical energy supply.

CEERP acts as a steering committee, working with many sponsors and partners to restore the diverse habitat functions and economic, cultural, and ecosystem benefits in the estuary using the best science-informed practices available. The Expert Regional Technical Group (ERTG) is an independent science advisory team that provides technical review for proposed restoration projects and topics for CEERP. This group has developed numerous documents to help guide restoration and research in the Columbia River Estuary since 2008.

Action Agencies

Bonneville Power Administration

BPA is a federal power marketing administration that generates and transmits hydroelectric power from dams along the Columbia River. It plays a vital role in restoration efforts through funding restoration and research and administering CEERP.

US Army Corps of Engineers Portland District

The US Army Corps of Engineers manages water resources and navigation and oversees hydroelectric power infrastructure in the region. It administers and contributes to CEERP through dam operations, habitat restoration, and research.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service is the regulatory body responsible for the conservation and management of marine and freshwater resources, including salmon and steelhead. It is the main fisheries management agency helping manage CEERP.

Restoration Partners

Meet the ongoing restoration partners that help realize CEERP’s mission.

Get to know our partners and collaborators

CEERP’s Expert Panel

The ERTG is a group of scientists with regional expertise in fish passage, restoration ecology, hydrology, fish biology, tidal wetlands, geomorphology, sediment dynamics, and more.